Head support for diagnostic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A headrest to be used in diagnostic apparatus such as, for instance, precision eye examining instruments, said apparatus providing a semiflexible abutment for the forehead to prevent forward or sideward movements of the head.

Inventors Charles 1-1. Blood Rochester; Stephen K. Bright, Perinton,N.Y.; Kenneth D. Meier, Palm Harbor, F 13.; Lawrence J. Meyers, AnnArbor, Mich.

App]. No. 888,738

Filed Dec. 29, 1969 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 Assignee Bausch & LombIncorporated Rochester, N.Y.

HEAD SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOST1C APPARATUS 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

u.s.c1 351/38, 248/] 18, 250/50. 297/391. 297/392, 297/404 1m.c1A61b3/00, A61 g 15/00 [50] Field ofSearch 351/38; 250/50; 297/391, 392,397, 104;248/118 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,01512/1936 Ames,.1r 351/38 X 2,235,319 3/1941 Jobe 351/38 X 2,267,10312/1941 1re1and.. 297/404 X 2,852,975 9/1958 Radde 297/391 X PrimaryExaminer David Schonberg Arsislant E.raminer Paul A. Sacher Atlorney-Frank C. Parker ABSTRACT: A headrest to be used in diagnostic apparatussuch as, for instance. precision eye examining instruments, saidapparatus providing a semiflexible abutment for the forehead to preventforward or sideward movements of the head.

PAIWEDNW 23 I97! 3,622,233

-- I l I ::'||]HH H'IHI STEPHEN wamsm CHARLES H. 51.000

KENNETH D. MINER h; LAWRENCE J-MEYERS INVENTORS BY I 1 /LMQ\ ATTORNEYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to headrestsor supports which are generally used on diagnostic apparatus,particularly eye examination apparatus, such as slit lamp apparatus andsimilar devices. when conducting an examination of the eye, for instanceto determine certain critical properties thereof, it is necessary thatthe head remain reliably immobile in a prescribed position. Due to thegreatly dissimilar shapes of heads in the forehead and temple portions,problems commonly arise in properly fitting the head-holding member to apatient in a comfortable and effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the presentinvention to provide a head support for a diagnostic apparatus whichreliably and precisely positions a subjects head with reference to saidapparatus without causing the subject any discomfort.

It is a further object to provide such a device which is quickly appliedto the forehead and temple portions of the head of the subjectregardless of the contour of those portions.

Further objects and advantages will be found in details of constructionand arrangement thereof by reference to the following specification andthe accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view showing apreferred form of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of said invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a head supportwhich is generally designated by the numeral 10. The support device isheld on a base member 1 1, which in most cases is part of the diagnosticapparatus to be served, by machine screws, one of which is shown at 12.

The head support device 10 comprises a baseplate l3 whereon a chin rest14 is mounted centrally thereon, said chin rest being adjustably heldabove the baseplate 13 by means for a jackscrew 15 which is rotatablyheld in a bore 16 formed in the baseplate 13. The downward force on thechin rest 14 is transmitted from the jackscrew 15 through an adjustingnut 17 wherein the screw is threaded and is thereby transmitted to thebaseplate 13.

Further comprising said chin rest 14 is a metallic platform 18 whereon aconcave nonmetallic chin pad 19 is held demountably by means of a pairof opposite spring detents 20 and 21 which engage in correspondingnotches 22 and 23 fonned in the platform 18. Along the front side of thechin pad 19 is formed a vertical flange 24 which functions as a chinstop, the chin rest serving to locate the patients head as indicated bydotted lines at 25.

According to the present invention, means are provided for firmly andreliably holding the upper part of the head 25 against sideward andforward lateral motions, said means comprising a pair of parallelvertical posts 26 and 27 which are adjustably secured by clamping screws28 and 29 in the bores 30 and 31 formed at the outer ends of thebaseplate 13 as shown in FIG. 1.

At the upper end of each post 26 and 27 is secured an arm, the pair ofarms being designated by numerals 32 and 33. Said arms extend generallytoward each other in a forward direction so that one is inclined to theother symmetrically at an inclined angle of about 90 or more so as toprovide a space for the head 25 as partially shown by dotted lines inFIG. 1.

Near the outboard end of the arms 32 and 33 are pivotally mountedindividually a pair of contact or rocker blocks 34 and 35 which havecurved locating surfaces 36 and 37 formed thereon. Locating surfaces 36and 37 approximately are shaped to conform to the average curvature offorehead 25 ust above the brow lme and said surfaces normally he on acommon circle in the preferred form of the invention.

The contact or rocker blocks 34 and 35 are provided with horizontalbosses 38 and 39 which are held pivotally within free fitting recesses40 and 41 formed in the respective arms 32 and 33 and held therein bythe respective pivot pins 42 and 43. As shown in FIG. l, the clearancespaces between the blocks contact or rocker blocks 34 and 35 and theirrespective recesses 40 and 41 are sufficient to permit restrictedpivoting movement of the contact or rocker blocks for the purpose ofconforming the locating surfaces 36 and 37 to the contour of differentheads. Simple means such as the leaf springs 44 and 45 secured to thebacks of the contact or rocker blocks 34 and 35 are provided to maintainthe contact or rocker blocks normally erect in their recesses.

In order to comfortably accommodate head contours which vary greatly inshape and size, a flexible headband 46 is provided which extends aroundthe forehead in contact therewith above the brow line. The ends of theheadband 46 are secured by any preferred means such as the screws 47 and48 which pass through holes in the ends of the headband and are threadedinto tapped holes in the contact or rocker blocks 34 and 35 as shown inFIG. 1.

Further accommodation for different shapes and sizes of heads 25 may bemade by loosening the lockscrews 49 and 50 which hold the arms 32 and 33on the upright posts and adjusting the angularity of the arms, andadditionally by using headbands 46 of different lengths.

When making vertical adjustments in the location of the headband 46, thethumbscrews 28 and 29 are released so that the arms 32 and 33 togetherwith the crossbar and its attached headband may be raised or lowered,following which the thumbscrews are tightened again.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the presentinvention provides a headrest which supports the head of a patientcomfortably and reliably regardless of the contoured shape thereof andrequiring no adjusting screws except for elevation.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, changes in the form and arrangement of the partsthereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the inventionas defined in the claims appended herebelow.

We claim:

I. A device for support a head in a diagnostic apparatus having a baseand a support frame said frame including a pair of upright posts and achin rest for said head located between the posts, said devicecomprising;

a pair of horizontally disposed support arms directed angularly towardeach other each affixed at one of its ends to a respective one of saidposts and projecting toward each other, and toward the temples of saidhead,

a pair of rocker blocks having bosses formed thereon, each boss beingfreely fitted within one of said recesses,

pivot means cooperatively engaging said bosses and said support arms toallow said rocker blocks to pivot within said recesses,

a flexible head strap extending between the rocker blocks for beingdisposed about the forehead portion of said head in an arcuate shape,and

means for anchoring the opposite ends of said flexible head strapindividually onto said rocker blocks.

1. A device for supporting a head in a diagnostic apparatus having abase and a support frame said frame including a pair of upright postsand a chin rest for said head located between the posts, said devicecomprising; a pair of horizontally disposed support arms directedangularly toward each other each afixed at one of its ends to arespective one of said posts and projecting toward each other, andtoward the temples of said head, a pair of rocker blocks having bossesformed thereon, each boss being freely fitted within one of saidrecesses, pivot means cooperatively engaging said bosses and saidsupport arms to allow said rocker blocks to pivot within said recesses,a flexible head strap extending between the rocker blocks for beingdisposed about the forehead portion of said head in an arcuate shape,and means for anchoring the opposite ends of said flexiblE head strapindividually onto said rocker blocks.